History of the Jews 1 Exodus
Summary
TLDRThis script explores the rich history of the Jewish people, from their monotheistic origins over 3000 years ago to their enduring cultural impact. It narrates their trials, from exile to the Babylonian conquest, the return to Jerusalem under Cyrus the Great, and the construction of the Second Temple by Ezra. The script delves into the significance of the Torah, the Maccabean Revolt, and the influence of Hellenistic and Roman cultures. It highlights key moments like the Exodus, the Ten Commandments, and the building of Herod's Temple, showcasing the resilience and faith of the Jewish people throughout history.
Takeaways
- ๐ The history of the Jewish people began over 3000 years ago with the development of monotheism, which had a profound impact on the world.
- ๐๏ธ Jerusalem has been a contested city for centuries, with the Jewish people often at the mercy of superior conquerors.
- ๐ The Torah, created by compiling religious traditions, is central to the Jewish religion and resembles the first five books of the Old Testament.
- ๐ฅ The Book of Exodus tells the story of the Israelites' liberation from Egypt, a significant event celebrated during Passover.
- ๐๏ธ The Ten Commandments, given to Moses on Mount Sinai, form the ethical foundation of the Jewish faith and regulate people's relationship with God.
- ๐๏ธ The Ark of the Covenant, containing the Ten Commandments, was a visible sign of God's presence and a symbol of the Israelites' covenant with God.
- ๐๏ธ King David conquered Jerusalem and made it the new capital, bringing the Ark of the Covenant to the city and initiating a period of significant construction.
- ๐ The Babylonian conquest of Jerusalem in 586 BC led to the destruction of the city and the exile of the Judean upper class to Babylon.
- ๐๏ธ The return of the Judeans from Babylonian exile, allowed by Persian King Cyrus, marked a new beginning for the Jewish people and the reestablishment of their religious and cultural identity.
- ๐๏ธ Herod the Great, declared king by the Roman Senate, undertook massive construction projects in Jerusalem, including a new temple, to impress his subjects and solidify his rule.
Q & A
What is the significance of monotheism in the history of the Jewish people?
-Monotheism, the belief in one God who tolerates no other gods, was a revolutionary idea that originated with the Jewish people over 3000 years ago and has had a profound impact on the world, shaping their identity and religious practices.
How did the Jews maintain their identity after being scattered around the world due to wars and persecution?
-The Jewish people maintained their identity through their shared history, religious beliefs, and cultural practices, as well as through the compilation of their religious traditions into the Torah, which stands at the center of Judaism.
What role did Ezra play in the resurrection of Jerusalem after the captivity in Babylon?
-Ezra, a priest and scribe, led the Jews back to Jerusalem after their captivity in Babylon. He and his followers brought gold and jewelry to help rebuild the city and the temple, and his knowledge and patience made him a revered religious leader.
What is the significance of the Torah in the Jewish religion and its relation to the Old Testament?
-The Torah is the central text of the Jewish religion, containing the teachings and laws that have guided Jewish life for millennia. It is also the first five books of the Old Testament, making it a significant text for both Jews and Christians.
What is the story of Exodus and its importance in Jewish history?
-The story of Exodus tells of the Israelites' liberation from Egyptian slavery under the leadership of Moses, who was given a mission by God. This story is central to Jewish history and is celebrated annually during Passover, symbolizing freedom and the establishment of the Jewish people as a distinct entity.
What are the Ten Commandments and their significance in the Jewish faith?
-The Ten Commandments are a set of moral and religious laws given to Moses by God on Mount Sinai. They regulate the relationship between people and God and serve as the ethical foundation of civilization, being a cornerstone of the Jewish, and by extension, the Christian faith.
What is the significance of circumcision in Jewish tradition and its symbolism?
-Circumcision is an important symbolic act in Jewish tradition, marking the covenant between God and the Jewish people. It is performed on every male Jewish infant eight days after birth and signifies his initiation into the Jewish community.
What was the significance of the Ark of the Covenant in the Israelites' journey to the promised land?
-The Ark of the Covenant was a portable shrine containing the stone tablets with the Ten Commandments. It served as a visible sign of God's presence and a symbol of the Israelites' covenant with God, providing them with guidance and assurance during their journey.
What is the historical significance of the city of Jerusalem to the Jewish people?
-Jerusalem holds immense historical significance for the Jewish people as it is considered the center of their faith and the location of the First and Second Temples. It has been the site of many pivotal events in Jewish history, including the reign of King David and the construction of Solomon's Temple.
What was the impact of the Babylonian exile on the Jewish people and their faith?
-The Babylonian exile was a period of great suffering for the Jewish people, but it also led to a strengthening of their faith and identity. During this time, they developed a strong sense of unity and longing for their homeland, which was later fulfilled when Cyrus the Great allowed them to return to Jerusalem.
How did the Maccabees' revolt against Hellenistic influence impact the Jewish people and their culture?
-The Maccabees' revolt was a significant event that resisted the Hellenization of Jewish culture and the suppression of Jewish religious practices. The successful rebellion led to the rededication of the Temple in Jerusalem, an event celebrated today as Hanukkah, symbolizing the importance of religious freedom and cultural identity.
Outlines
๐ The Origins and Dispersal of the Jewish People
This paragraph delves into the ancient beginnings of the Jewish people over 3000 years ago in the desert, where the concept of monotheism emerged, profoundly impacting the world. The narrative recounts the trials of war and persecution that led to the scattering of Jews globally. Despite these adversities, Jews have significantly contributed as thinkers, scientists, and artists, maintaining their identity through the ages. The script also touches on the historical significance of Jerusalem and the return of the Jews from Babylonian captivity under the leadership of Ezra, who played a crucial role in the resurrection of Jerusalem and the Jewish faith.
๐ The Creation of the Torah and the Exodus
The paragraph discusses the compilation of religious traditions by the Jewish people during their time in foreign lands, leading to the creation of the Torah, a central text in Judaism and the first five books of the Christian Old Testament. The story of Exodus is highlighted, detailing the mission of Moses, who led the Israelites out of Egyptian servitude after a series of plagues. The importance of the book of Exodus in understanding the Jewish people's origins is emphasized, along with the celebration of Passover as a remembrance of their liberation from Egypt.
๐ The Struggle for the Promised Land and the Ten Commandments
This section of the script focuses on the Israelites' arduous journey towards the 'Promised Land,' facing challenges such as scarcity of food and water. The significance of Mount Sinai is underscored as the location where God is said to have given Moses the Ten Commandments, which serve as the ethical foundation of civilization. The paragraph also details the cultural and religious practices of the Israelites, including circumcision as a covenant with God and the use of prayer straps known as tefillin.
๐บ The Israelites' Settlement and the Quest for a Unified State
The paragraph describes the Israelites' settlement in different regions following their Exodus and their encounters with powerful enemies. It narrates the growing dissatisfaction with tribal leadership, culminating in the anointing of Saul as the first king of Israel by the judge Samuel. The paragraph also introduces key figures like David, who became a symbol of heroism after defeating Goliath, and the establishment of Jerusalem as the capital of the unified kingdom under his rule.
๐ Archaeological Insights into the Biblical Era
This part of the script brings to light archaeological findings that provide insights into the biblical era, including the discovery of a stone fragment in Tel Dan with an inscription mentioning the 'house of David.' It discusses the challenges in verifying biblical accounts of the conquest of Canaan and the Israelites' settlement in Shiloh. The narrative also touches upon the skepticism of scholars like Israel Finkelstein, who question the historicity of certain biblical events.
๐บ The Babylonian Exile and the Restoration of Jerusalem
The paragraph recounts the Babylonian conquest of Jerusalem and the subsequent exile of the Judean upper class, as well as the allowance for the common people to remain or move to Egypt. It describes the life of the Judeans in Babylon, their longing for Jerusalem, and their faith that united them. The script also highlights the pivotal moment when Persian King Cyrus conquered Babylon and permitted the Judeans to return home, marking a significant chapter in Jewish history.
๐ The Compilation of the Torah and the Influence of Hellenism
This section discusses the compilation of the Torah by Ezra and other scholars post-exile, emphasizing its role in reinforcing the identity of the Jewish people. The script also explores the impact of Hellenistic civilization on the region after Alexander the Great's conquest, including the construction of cities like Marissa and the influence of Greek culture on Jewish life.
๐จ The Maccabean Revolt and the Rediscovery of Jewish Identity
The paragraph narrates the Maccabean Revolt against the Hellenistic rulers, led by the priest Mattathias and his son Judas Maccabeus, who fought against the forced adoption of Greek customs and the suppression of Jewish religious practices. The story culminates in the rededication of the temple in Jerusalem, the miracle of the oil that lasted eight days, and the establishment of Hanukkah as a celebration of Jewish resilience and faith.
๐๏ธ The Reign of Herod the Great and Roman Domination
This section delves into the reign of Herod the Great, who, despite being seen as a Roman puppet by many Jews, embarked on ambitious construction projects to modernize Judea and impress his subjects. Herod's efforts to build a new temple in Jerusalem, which would surpass Solomon's in grandeur, are highlighted, as well as the economic and cultural boom it brought to the region. The paragraph also touches on the political dynamics between the Jews and the Romans, hinting at the tension that would shape their future relations.
Mindmap
Keywords
๐กMonotheism
๐กDiaspora
๐กJerusalem
๐กTorah
๐กExodus
๐กTen Commandments
๐กCircumcision
๐กHanukkah
๐กHerod the Great
๐กJudea
๐กCyrus the Great
Highlights
The Jewish people's history began over 3000 years ago with the development of monotheism.
Jews have been scattered worldwide due to war and persecution, maintaining their identity through various contributions as thinkers, scientists, and artists.
The city of Jerusalem has been a significant center for the Jewish faith, despite being fought over repeatedly throughout history.
The return of the Jews to Jerusalem under Ezra's leadership and the resurrection of the city as the Jewish faith center post-Babylonian captivity.
The creation of the Torah, the central text of Jewish religion, which also resembles the first five books of the Old Testament.
The Book of Exodus's central role in telling the dramatic story of the Israelites' liberation from Egypt.
The celebration of Passover as a symbol of liberation and the significance of unleavened bread (matzah) in the remembrance of the Exodus.
The Ten Commandments as the ethical foundation of civilization and their unique representation in Jewish faith.
The importance of circumcision as a covenant between every male Jew and God, symbolizing initiation into the Jewish world.
The significance of the Ark of the Covenant as a visible sign of God's presence with the Israelites.
The conquest of Canaan and the establishment of a fixed center for the Israelites' shrine in Shiloh, though this account is disputed by some scholars.
The reign of King David, the symbol of a hero, and his conquest of Jerusalem, making it the new capital.
The construction of Solomon's Temple, intended to be a symbol of faith and the center of the Jewish religion.
The division of the kingdom after Solomon's death into Israel and Judea, leading to hostile coexistence and external threats.
The Babylonian conquest of Jerusalem and the exile of the Judean upper class, leading to the loss of their religious center.
The return of the Judeans from Babylonian exile under Cyrus the Great's decree, allowing them to rebuild their homeland.
The compilation of the Torah as a means to reinforce the identity and boundaries of the Jewish nation.
The influence of Hellenistic culture on the Jewish people and the Maccabean Revolt against the Hellenization of Jewish life.
The story of Hanukkah, celebrating the rededication of the temple and the miracle of the oil that lasted for eight days.
The incorporation of Judea into the Roman province of Syria and the rise of Herod the Great as a Roman-backed king.
Herod's ambitious construction projects, including the expansion of Jerusalem and the building of a new temple.
The impact of Roman rule on the Jewish people and the potential for conflict between foreign domination and Jewish autonomy.
Transcripts
the history of the Jewish people began
more than 3000 years ago in the desert
an idea developed of the one and only
God one who tolerates no other gods but
him monotheism was an idea that would
change the world war and persecution
scattered the Jews all around the world
it's a story of splendor and suffering
that leads right up to the present day
they've left their mark as great
thinkers scientists and artists how did
the Jews manage to maintain their
identity over all these years
[Music]
[Applause]
the Jews history other people Jerusalem
450 BC for centuries the city's being
fought over time and again the Jewish
people have been at the mercy of
superior conquerors
[Music]
after a long captivity in Babylon the
Jews are finally allowed to return to
their homeland in Jerusalem the last to
arrive are being impatiently awaited
they are being led by the priest and
scribe Ezra he and his followers bring
gold and jewelry with them Jerusalem
must be resurrected and be the center of
the Jewish faith the belief in the one
God with Asura's helped the Jews want to
rebuild the temple that the Babylonians
destroyed
[Music]
part-1 Exodus
Ezra's knowledge and his patients are
vaunted everywhere soon the people of
Jerusalem will vote him their religious
leader they kept their people's memories
and stories in the foreign land the
creation of the world the first people
and the Great Flood stories of heroes
and warriors full of wonder and mystery
revelations and laws of their God now
they're compiling all of these religious
traditions for the rest of time
[Music]
thus the Torah was created the book of
teaching and the law to this day this
book stands at the center of the Jewish
religion but the Torah is not of
significance only for Jews it resembles
the first five books of the Old
Testament the first part of the
Christian Bible the Torah is one of our
few sources concerning the origin of the
Jewish people the book of Exodus plays a
central role it tells a dramatic story
that probably began more than 3000 years
ago
it is written that God appeared to the
Shepherd Moses in a burning bush and
gave him a mission I have seen the
oppression wherewith the Egyptians
oppress them I will send thee unto
Pharaoh that thou mayst bring forth my
people the children of Israel out of
Egypt
[Music]
for 400 years the Jews have lived in
Egyptian servitude
now Moses begs Pharaoh let my people go
but the Egyptian ruler declines so God
brings plagues and natural disasters
onto the land and when all the firstborn
of the Egyptians die Pharaoh lets the
Israelites go free
but he sends his soldiers in pursuit the
book of Exodus tells the fate of the
Israelites with God's help they managed
to escape through the sea the Egyptians
drown in the floods
Moses is leading the Israelites through
the desert what keeps them going is
there hope for God's promised land
flowing with milk and honey
[Music]
young and old men women and children
600,000 people so it is said and their
goal is freedom a life without slavery
[Music]
to this day Jews celebrate Passover and
remember their Exodus their flight from
Egypt it is said that they left quickly
and in secret there was no time to
prepare sourdough for their bread that's
why Jews still eat matzah and Passover
the unleavened bread they also eat
salted eggs bitter herbs and other foods
whose color and texture resemble
Egyptian clay and whose taste reminds
them of bitter times State Pesach
today Passover is the focal point
because it means liberation not just the
liberation of Israel in the beginning of
the history of the Jewish people up to
that time history was as is told by
Genesis the history of the individuals
patriarchs of families and of clans but
in Exodus Israel enters the world stage
as a people divided into tribes it it's
true but they are a unit deep unity this
history begins with liberation before
you but that also means that as Passover
is a symbol of freedom D freiheit
the basic freedom that everyone is
entitled to not just Israel mentioned
two-state the path to freedom is hard in
the third month the fugitives reach
Sinai this peninsular lies between Egypt
and modern-day Israel the Israelites are
said to have fought their way to the
promised land through this inhospitable
environment they don't have enough water
or food every day as a test is God
really with them
[Music]
on Mount Sinai so it is written in the
Bible God appears to Moses once more
[Music]
now therefore if you will obey my voice
indeed and keep my covenant then ye
shall be a peculiar treasure unto me
from among all peoples for all the earth
is mine
the 2300 metre Jebel Musa the mountain
of Moses is said to be the place where
this covenant was made to this day it's
a place of great significance for Jews
Christians and Muslims alike Moses
brings two stone tablets with him from
the summit into which the Ten
Commandments are chiseled they regulate
people's relationship to God and are
also the ethical bedrock of civilization
the first commandments are wider bear
Elohim it color I am THE LORD thy God
which brought thee out of the land of
Egypt out of the house of bondage thou
shalt have none other gods before me
thou shalt not make unto thee a graven
image nor any likeness munna
a Chaba Shama me Mull Pacha bara Smita
had shocking Commandments new and alien
all the other cultures all around
worship many gods and make likenesses
and statues of them the Israelites alone
are to believe their God to be so great
that there is no room for other gods and
that no image could represent him
[Music]
again and again Moses reminds the people
of God's words and if you shall reject
my statutes and break my covenant I also
will do this unto you I will appoint
terror over you even consumption and
fever that shall consume the eyes and
make the soul to pine away the Torah
contains a further 603 injunctions they
regulate the whole of life from waking
to sleeping from the cradle to the grave
it's the duty of every Jew to follow
them but they also give security and
strength in the urban flow of history in
every place on earth
one important commandment also demands
the circumcision of every male Jew eight
days after his birth just like their
forefathers every male Jewish infant is
circumcised eight days after his birth
as a symbol of his covenant with God
this important symbolic act marks his
initiation into the Jewish world and is
celebrated with a big party
[Music]
Pablito thought he must miss covenant is
of great importance for the people of
Israel it's very difficult to live such
a covenant because the human being must
be convinced that it's not only his
accident speak of his relationship with
God but also his body
Maremma
allocation shallow email Hakeem Ella
gamble for circumcision is a painful in
a comprehensible step that frightens
parents before they do this to the
resulted ship movie of behad l'olam if
Mishima see Mozilla Ben Shalom the
prayer straps known as tefillin also
remind faithful Jews of the unbreakable
covenant with God
volha shown working with I'm sure every
little box contains four Torah texts
written on parchment and it shall be for
a sign unto thee upon thine hand and for
a memorial between thine eyes that the
law of the Lord may be in thy mouth for
with a strong hand hath the Lord brought
thee out of Egypt at my service appalled
because I'm Alisha Monica it is written
that the Israelites wandered through the
desert for forty years
then they reached Mount Nebo in
modern-day Jordan it was here that Moses
set eyes on the promised land and once
again he heard God's voice this is the
land which I swear unto Abraham unto
Isaac and unto Jacob saying I will give
it unto thy seed I have caused the to
see it with thine eyes but thou shalt
not go over thither
[Music]
Moses was never to reach the destination
of their long journey he died and was
buried at an unknown location
[Music]
[Applause]
Eretz Israel the Land of Israel to this
day it remains the land of longing for
many Jews according to biblical dating
the Israelites entered Canaan around
1300 BC there they met other peoples
with whom they will be at war time and
again over the coming centuries on their
way to the promised land the Israelites
carry the Ark of the Covenant with them
they keep the stone tablets with the Ten
Commandments that sealed their contract
with God in this golden chest the
portable shrine is the visible sign for
them and their enemies God is always
with us
[Music]
after conquering the land the Israelites
are said to have congregated in Shiloh
for the time being which is between
Jerusalem and modern-day Nablus for the
first time they have a fixed center for
their shrine the time of wandering seems
over the nomads become settled but once
their Exodus really as the Bible tells
it many scholars today doubt this
account the conquest of Canaan by the
Israelites is also contested
indefatigable archaeologists are looking
for definitive traces Israel Finkelstein
from the University of Tel Aviv
questions many biblical events
archeology has shown in the last century
or so that many of the sites which are
mentioned in the text in relation to the
conquest story simply did not exist were
not inhabited so to speak at that time
and secondly we know today that the fall
of the Canaanite system gypto Canaanite
system was a long process so the we are
not dealing with a military conquest of
Canaan by a group of people who march
under one leadership and take you know
one city after the other the Torah isn't
a historical treatise it's a book of
faith in which the birth of the people
is recorded
[Music]
the shrine has its place in Shiloh but
at the moment it's still a tabernacle a
tent a portable temple as a symbol of
the unconsolidated condition of the
young state
many hundreds of years later Ezra the
priest and other scholars write down the
history of their ancestors this is how
the Israelites are said to have settled
in different places after their Exodus
only weekly allied with each other they
were however surrounded by powerful
enemies the Israelites were dissatisfied
so it is written their tribal leaders
the judges were no longer adequate the
demands of the people grew louder and
louder
that we also may be like all the nations
and that our king may judge us and go
out before us and fight our battles
[Music]
it is intended that the old judge Samuel
who was living in Shiloh should anoint
this king
the wise Samuel accepts the task even
though he warns at the dangers of an
abuse of power but his objections fall
on deaf ears and so Saul becomes the
first king of Israel and the loose
association of tribes becomes a state is
it not that the Lord hath anointed thee
to be Prince over his inheritance
the main enemies of Saul and his young
Kingdom are the Philistines the maritime
nation has a well-organized army and
powerful weapons they steal the Ark of
the Covenant more than once
in their fight against the Philistines
it is one Israelite in particular who
attracts attention the shepherd boy
David with a simple slingshot he subdued
the huge Philistine Goliath so it is
said
King Saul is jealous of young David he
fears him as a rival and exiled him
in exile David makes a name for himself
as a relentless warrior
the victory over Goliath becomes the
symbol of the successful battle of one
who is weaker against a more powerful
enemy and David is the symbol of a hero
par excellence
[Music]
even though not everything written about
him resounds to his honor there are
paths of the story let's say in the book
of Samuel where we do have I think texts
describing David in a genuine historical
way when you have David as a
troublemaker living on the margins of
society going with his gang you know
extortion here protecting a city there
running away from Seoul making troubles
this is probably historical David and
his soldiers are in a war camp when a
messenger arrives at the tent
he has tragic news the messenger says he
only just managed to escape the enemy he
says he has Saul's headdress and his
armband Saul fell in the battle against
the Philistines David appears shaken the
king is dead
though a homeless is groomer minute
according to tradition he tore his shirt
honest morning
or cold calculation only a short while
later David is crowned King David
conquers the town of Jeffers from the
Jebusites living there from now on it is
called Jerusalem and he is victorious
against the invading Philistines very
soon the king is ruling over a large
Kingdom so it is written in the Bible
the City of Jerusalem is the new capital
it is here that David brings the holy of
holies of the Israelites the Ark of the
Covenant with the stone tablets of the
law
the oldest part of the city still
carries his name today here David
City of David archaeologist Ronnie
Wright is leading the excavations here
there are hardly any fines from the
legendary times of King David and his
son Solomon a terraced complex is the
exception at first it was ignored when
archaeologists excavated it around 1970
it became important the moment that
scholars started to question the problem
of the what we call the 10th century BC
the days of Solomon David and Solomon in
Jerusalem and then saying that we don't
have much of this period of time in
Jerusalem so suddenly the stepped
structure is actually the only
architectural element which might in
some according to some interpretation
might belong to this period of time and
it is a big thing it's not just a
private house for a long time these
ruins were the only remains
[Music]
but in 1993 archeologists made a
sensational discovery a stone fragment
was found in Tel Dan the Hebraic
inscription mentions the house of David
it's the only non biblical confirmation
for the existence of his dynasty
[Music]
in order to crown his life's work David
wants to build got a temple but God
offends him off
thou shalt not build an house unto my
name because thou hast shed much blood
upon the earth in my sight it was only
David's son Solomon who built the first
temple on a hill near the City of David
now the city is not only the seat of the
king but also the center of the faith
according to the Bible there was a room
in the interior of the temple that was
only accessible to the high priests and
the priests brought in the Ark of the
Covenant of the Lord unto its place into
the Oracle of the house to the most holy
place even under the wings of the
cherubim but where the city in the
temple really as big as they were
described in the 10th century BC
Jerusalem was a very small town maybe a
village not fortified no monumental
buildings the temple itself was probably
kind of a modest building the shrine of
the dynasty the Chapel of the dynasty if
you wish and there could have been a
modest palace as well Jerusalem grows to
become a big city an influential city in
the late 8th century when Judah is
incorporated into the Assyrian global
world economy the Bible remains the only
testimony to the temples existence an
exact search for evidence of remains of
the legendary building is not possible
for religious and political reasons
because these days the Muslim Dome of
the rock and the al-aqsa mosque stand
here
after Solomon's death the kingdom breaks
into two Israel in the north and Judea
in the south
for more than 200 years they live
side-by-side in hostile coexistence
always in danger of being overrun by a
more powerful enemy
right into the 8th century their
religious customs are hardly different
from those of other peoples around the
Mediterranean monotheism hasn't yet
asserted itself at this time they still
worship other gods besides the One God
such as the ancient bull God
[Music]
from time to time God even has a wife
the ancient Syrian goddess Ashera it's a
good time for prophets articulate men
who warn of a return to pagan customs
fearless they make themselves into the
voice of God's messages they are both
social critics and soothsayers the
Prophet Jeremiah is one of those who
demands penance and the return to
stricter ways otherwise God would send a
terrible tribunal and Jerusalem would
perish for whom shall have pity upon the
O Jerusalem or who shall bomb on thee or
you shall turn aside to ask of my
welfare thou has rejected me saith the
Lord thou art gone backward
the threats from external enemies are
growing within the city walls there is
hardly a single well the abundant Gyan
source lies outside of the city walls
then in the eighth century Hezekiah king
of Judea plans an extraordinary project
the building of a tunnel for water and
so it is also written in the Bible
this same Hezekiah also stopped the
upper spring of the waters of Gihon and
brought them straight down on the west
side of the city of David and Hezekiah
prospered in all his works a tunnel
below the city was already discovered in
the nineteenth century for a long time
it was disputed whether this was the 8th
century biblical tunnel or not in 2003
researchers from Jerusalem decided to
investigate the ancient tunnel with the
help of radiometry they examined the
tunnel walls the result is a sensation
we managed here to date very accurately
the oldest structure described in the
Bible there is no structure in the Bible
described in the Old Testament which has
been really dated by scientific methods
but how did workers of the Bronze Age
managed to build a 530 metre tunnel into
the mountain without losing their
bearings especially since they dug from
both ends at the same time as a
contemporary inscription records did
they simply follow the natural course of
the water this is also a question that
researchers are investigating by
examining tears and gaps in the stone
after underground research that took
months aya Shimon is convinced that the
tunnel is an architectural master work
how are they possibly directed towards
each other that was done by simply
acoustic communication by guiding teams
on the surface surface team underground
team they heard each other and the
surface team was able to guide the
carving teams underground towards each
other but since this the sound
communication is not really all that
precise it also then explains why the
tunnel zigzags and swings around and
does all kinds of funny things rather
than goes in a straight line
[Music]
a new means of obtaining water can
prolong a siege but it can't prevent a
war
in 586 BC the Babylonians conquered
Jerusalem Jeremiah's prophecies come
true then the king of Babylon slew the
sons of Zedekiah in Riblet before his
eyes and the Chaldeans burned the King's
house and the house of the people with
fire and break down the walls of
Jerusalem this is what the Book of
Jeremiah writes about the event that was
to change the fate of Judea for a long
time to come the Babylonian ruler
nebuchadnezzar ii has yet more plans for
judea's population after the destruction
of jerusalem he takes the Judean upper
class to Babylon as spoils of war
the simple people are allowed to stay in
the country or emigrate to neighboring
Egypt
[Music]
the Judeans have lost their religious
center and their land Jerusalem is in
ashes will they also lose their faith in
God
[Music]
Judea is assimilated into the Babylonian
Kingdom that stretches from the
Mediterranean to Persia in the center of
this vast empire lies the legendary city
of Babylon
[Music]
it is the time of nebuchadnezzar ii
babylon is a city of superlatives
witnesses are awestruck by its
magnificence the houses are built of
solid brick walls the Tower of Babel is
legendary and the Hanging Gardens are
among the seven wonders of the ancient
world in around 500 BC the Greek
historian Herodotus wrote Babylon wasn't
just a fairly large city but it was also
the most beautiful city of all the ones
we know of
[Music]
at the beginning of the 20th century the
German archaeologist horbet coal of a
excavated a city that had long been
forgotten
most Judeans are living a good life in
their Babylonian exile women and
children can move about freely and many
men are working as officials at the
court the generations that grow up here
only know their home from the stories of
the elders their memories sound like a
promise
by the waters of Babylon we sat down and
wept when we remembered thee Oh sigh on
[Music]
they called Jerusalem Zion the city
chosen by God and His people for them it
was the embodiment of the promised land
their hope to one day return and their
faith in their God United them in these
foreign lands
in 539 BC the Persian king Cyrus
conquers Babylon and allows the Judeans
to return home some decide to stay and
found the Babylonian community that was
to remain in existence for more than
2,000 years cyrus thus ensured himself
an important place in Jewish history was
it political calculation or clemency
towards the conquered people's on the so
called Cyrus cylinder which is now in
the British Museum in London the ruler
had his achievements recorded I Cyrus
king of this vast empire king of the
four Shores of the world
I brought the gods who were living there
back to their place I got all their
people together and brought them back to
their homes I don't think this was the
only example that was written under
Cyrus I think there must have been many
proclamations issued about what was
going to happen and in the authorship of
the Old Testament this was using the
same terminology in some cases as the
original Babylonian text interpreted
that Cyrus was the messenger of the God
of the Jews and that he had come
specially to rescue the Jews in their
predicament but the Jewish people are
not mentioned in this text at all and
the understanding that we have now and
the fame of the cylinder from this point
of view is based on the fact that the
Jewish authors interpreted as it were
for their own reasons something which
Cyrus was saying for his own reasons
[Music]
for many scholars the history of the
Jews begins with the return from exile
this is the first time they speak of
Jews they are faced by a great challenge
Ezra and other scholars compile the
Torah from writings and other traditions
it reinforces the confidence of a small
country that could always fall victim to
its superior neighbors again the goals
of the people in Jerusalem in late
monarchic times before the destruction
and the goals of the temple community
without a king then after they came back
from Babylonia are the same goals and
both are dealing with giving an identity
and with building the boundaries for the
nation and both do that with mainly two
platforms there's the platform of the
law which is extremely important the
book of Deuteronomy and so on and then
there's the second platform the platform
of history which explains how it all
began what happened what went wrong how
it can be fixed and what they're doing
how in order to have a better future and
the history part is also extremely
important for giving the framework the
boundaries the ethnic boundaries the
identity the shrine of the book is in
the Israel Museum here the oldest tor
attacks that have been so far found are
kept they are copies of copies they come
from Qumran on the Dead Sea they were
written down at around 240 BC
[Music]
the Torah became the most influential
text of the past two and a half thousand
years its triumphant March also resulted
from its being part of the Christian
Bible
[Music]
for devout Jews the Torah isn't a text
that developed over time but a godly
revelation every torah role has to be
treated with the utmost care and can
only be written by hand the sofa the
Torah writer needs years of practice
every one of the 300,000 letters is
carefully formed
[Music]
[Music]
since its seen as a living object it's
only allowed to be made of natural
materials it is written on vellum with a
turkey or goose quill utmost
concentration is required because any
mistake would make the Torah unusable as
befits its sacred status the Torah is
kept in a special arc the holy ark every
time it's taken out of the shrine the
Cantor sings a song in its honor for its
protection and decoration it is
enveloped in decorative velvet and
fitted with a crown of silver and gold
the envelope is only taken off for a
reading
[Music]
no the shortened trom disputa followed
one can't imagine Judaism in the Jewish
people without the Torah but now one has
to ask what does the Torah mean is it
the five books of Moses per se or the
whole body of Jewish wisdom and
teachings that arise from the Torah and
we have to take the Torah as a whole and
not just the five books of Moses in the
narrow sense of course they are the
anchor point of the whole but there is a
vast body of literature that is based on
the Torah and that comes out of the
Torah or Scripture and the whole of
Jewish life in all its aspects is shaped
by the torrent of the kaltura and keep
it on toska some judicially binho Silas
picton so without the correct there
would be no Judaism no Jewish people
gave us can you little can you just
follow it became the constitution of the
Jews in the middle of the 5th century in
332 BC the Greek Macedonian ruler
Alexander the Great conquered the
Mediterraneans east coast
[Music]
soon Judea also belongs to his vast
realm
even though Alexander's Empire fell
apart shortly after his death Hellenic
civilization influenced the entire
region for centuries to come
numerous cities were constructed on the
Greek model one of the most important is
Marissa
[Music]
these days there is little evidence of
the city's former size in Israel's
barren landscape the whole mountain is
covered in a network of caves and
cisterns made by the one-time
inhabitants of Marissa
[Music]
one of the biggest is the Columbarium
cave pigeons were bred in 2000 Nisha's
as homing pigeons sacrificial animals
all simply as food the Necropolis which
is greek for city of the dead that is a
cemetery it has only recently been
restored Greek culture their sense of
beauty and their worldly joie de vivre
pervade the everyday lives of the Jewish
inhabitants
[Music]
the rich upper-class is particularly
fascinated the stately tombstones such
as those here in the Kidron Valley in
Jerusalem have Greek models
the superficiality of the foreigners and
their influence alarms the devout Jews
in the first book of the Maccabees it is
written that whereupon they built a
place of exercise at Jerusalem according
to the customs of the heathen and made
themselves uncircumcised and forsook the
holy Covenant and joined themselves to
the heathen Judas is the scion of an old
Jewish line of priests right from the
start he's brought up to despise Rikka
culture the polytheism of the occupying
forces is idolatry and therefore a grave
crime it angers his father the priest
Mattathias
particularly those Jews who conformed to
much are an abomination to him a
thousand times he's preached to his son
to stay away from the unfaithful the
situation escalates
in 178 BC the successors of the Greek
ruler Alexander attacked Jerusalem and
dedicate the temple to the god Zeus king
Antiochus forbids the reading of the
Torah and circumcision he sends soldiers
to force the population to worship Greek
gods they come to moody in the home
village of Judas in his family
[Music]
the priest Mattathias
adores the inhabitants god forbid that
we should forsake the law and the
ordinances in a rage Mattathias kills
the commander-in-chief the family flees
into the mountains soon more and more
followers come to join them for many
decades the rebels fight the occupation
after his father's death
Judas takes over the leadership he gets
the epithet Maccabi the hammer
[Music]
his biggest triumph judas maccabees
reconquer 'he's the Temple Mount in
Jerusalem and drives off there
Hellenized Jews he destroys the Statue
of Zeus and dedicates the temple to the
god of the Jews again on the 25th of
Kislev the third month of the Jewish
calendar
[Music]
according to legend only a small bottle
of ritual oil was left it is said to
have fed the flame of the menorah the
seven-branched candelabrum for eight
days
[Music]
a new new chef chef Joe LaCava the
fundamental message of the Hanukkah
miracle is additional enormous if you
just as we had a candle every day until
we have eight so to every Jew and every
human being should become better every
day
Dumbo should never be satisfied with
what they have already accomplished the
lorries to pick of a machine or tomatoes
like Halle Berry
[Music]
since 1995 fifty years after the
Holocaust the Jewish community in
Frankfurt has been openly celebrating
Hanukkah again
every year around December Orthodox and
liberal Jews meet in front of the old
Opera House the celebration unites them
with each other and with their ancestors
in the second book of the Maccabees it
is written that they ordained also by a
common statute and decree that every
year those days should be kept of the
whole nation of the Jews
[Music]
the celebration of the dedication of the
temple marks the glorious climax of the
revolt the story of the heroic
resistance of the Maccabees is told to
this day when Judas died his brothers
continued the fight his descendants
continued to rule the independent state
for another 200 years
[Music]
in 66 BC the Roman general Gaius
Pompey's Magnus conquers Asia Minor
[Music]
Judea becomes part of the Roman province
of Syria and is incorporated into the
Roman superpower
[Music]
from now on the city on the Tiber will
determine the fate of the Jewish people
here a man enters the political arena
who is despised by the Jewish people and
feared by them because of his
unscrupulousness herod the great the
roman senate declares Herod king of
Judea Rome will protect him as long as
he represents Rome's interests he
survives several changes of power at the
head of the Roman state through charm
and diplomacy when he ascends his Judea
enthroned the real power behind him is
actually Rome
the king reciprocates he builds a huge
port on the Mediterranean coast it
becomes the biggest town in Judea bigger
even than Jerusalem in honor of the
Roman Caesars he names it Caesarea
maritima Herod Commission's the best
engineers the city was not to be
inferior to Roman examples in any way
the artificial harbour complex becomes
the biggest in the eastern Mediterranean
there's enough space for an entire Roman
legion Herod is mostly concerned about
the effect of the huge buildings he
wants to modernize the state and impress
his subjects
[Music]
the port of Caesarea is a destination
for trading ships from all across the
Roman world a tax-free zone is created
to attract wealthy potential traders
[Music]
Caesarea becomes the showpiece of the
entire region
luxurious villas a forum theatre public
baths and different temples are all to
be found there
added to this is a circus in which
chariot races take place the city
regularly hosts sporting contests and
other mass events or dos nassif is [ย __ย ]
the inherent personally experienced the
power of Roman architecture
he saw the force in charisma of the
temples theaters circuses with his own
eyes that's why he wanted to introduce
them in his realm too because he saw in
them the pinnacle of culture he probably
wasn't a great intellectual he doubled
it can inertia hold us luangta little
girdle Jerusalem also still bears the
signature of Herod everywhere the
remains of his imposing construction
projects are to be found the Cardo the
great shopping street still runs through
Jerusalem's Old Town
nearby archaeologists excavated Herod's
residential area in the 1970s this is
where the rich and beautiful lived as
luxuriously as they did in Rome with
baths floor heating and elaborately
painted walls
[Music]
the majority of the people remain
suspicious they see the ambitious
parvenu Herod as a Lackey of the Romans
the King curries favor among the people
one major building project is meant to
silence the critics particularly the
devout Jews a new temple is proposed
which will even eclipse Solomon's Temple
it is designed to have an inner
courtyard which can accommodate vast
crowds of pilgrims this is how Herod
wants to go down in history his plan
works for a while Herod even manages to
unite religious splinter groups the
construction of the temple doesn't just
increase the prestige of the King but
also that of the Jewish religion in the
world
it also breathes new life into Judean
trade and Jerusalem becomes a metropolis
in which a hundred thousand people live
Herod however doesn't live to see its
dedication he dies 60 years earlier
[Music]
even 2,000 years later the size of the
area gives an idea of the overwhelming
impression that the complex must have
made on its visitors by far the most
famous city of the east is what the
Roman writer Pliny the Elder called
ancient Jerusalem will the peace between
the Jews and the Romans keep will the
small rebellious people come to terms
with foreign rule
[Music]
[Music]
[Music]
[Music]
5.0 / 5 (0 votes)